August 28, 2019
Wondai Regional Art Gallery is calling for entries in its annual October Art Competition, which will be offering more than $8500 in cash prizes this year.
As usual, the major prize will be the $3000 Mayor’s Acquisitive – sponsored by the South Burnett Regional Council – for a work that will be added to the region’s permanent collection.
But the remaining $5500 will be distributed as first and second prizes across other categories.
This year, the competition will have six main categories – four for adults, two for children aged 4 to 18 – and entries can be on any theme or subject.
In addition to the Mayor’s Acquisitive, there will be an Open Art category with four sub-categories for works executed in oils or acrylics; watercolours; pastels; and any other medium.
Photographers can enter the Photography category and sculptors and potters the Sculpture and Ceramics category.
There will also be a category for Indigenous Art which is only open to Indigenous artists.
Children can submit artworks to the Children’s Art category in four age divisions: 4-6 years, 7-11 years, 12-15 years and 16-18 years.
And young shutterbugs aged 12-18 can submit their photographs in the Children’s Open Age Photography category.
In addition to these, there will also be an Australian Poetry Theme Art Competition sponsored by Hivesville artist Shannus O’Sullivan and his wife Evelyn offering $500 in prizes.
This competition, which has both an adult and an under-18s section, invites artists to choose any Australian poem written by any Australian author between 1800 and 1900, and then use any art medium to interpret it.
Gallery curator Elaine Madill said the October competition – which was formerly only open to South Burnett artists – will be expanded this year to accept art from any artist living in Australia.
“I believe competition is a good thing, and it’s good for our artists to compete against other artists from outside the region,” Elaine said.
“This forces our artists to expand their views and skills, and it’s a treat for people who come to view the exhibition as well.”
Entries in the competition opened this month and finished works must be lodged at the Wondai Regional Art Gallery no later than 2:00pm, Saturday, September 28.
After the exhibition, they must be collected by 2:00pm on Sunday, October 27.
A copy of the October Art Competition entry form and all conditions of entry can be downloaded here (800kb PDF).
The official opening night will be held on Friday, October 4, at 6:00pm.
Entry to the opening night is $5 for adults (children are free) and includes a hot and cold supper, punch and entertainment. South Burnett wines will also be available to purchase by the glass or bottle.
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Wondai Art Galley’s next exhibition will open next Friday (September 6).
In Gallery 1 will be “Captured and Created of Beauty Rich and Rare” by mother and daughter team Delwyn and Shaz Birkett. This is a showcase of photography and abstract art.
In Gallery 2, master pastellist Graham W. Smith will have “Burnett Beauty & Beyond”.
Graham held a watercolour workshop in the Studio at Wondai Gallery earlier in the year and since then has been working on a new exhibition for September. He will be holding an artist’s talk at the gallery on September 8 at 11:00am and will painting in the gallery from September 12-15 and September 20-22.
Jan Meiers will have mixed media in Gallery 3.
Moffatdale and Wheatlands State Schools will be sharing “Kids Korner” .
